Would you ever consider a vintage drill press left exposed to elements

[cgrutt]

There's a vintage Walker Turner drill press on CL for $100. It looks like a fairly heavy model with large/heavy industrial style motor. Column is completely rusted but seems it could be "surface" rust for most part, at least from pic. Motor casing is starting to rust as well as all the machined surfaces. I inquired about it and asked if owner would accept $75. It's in pretty rough shape, will need a lot of TLC to restore and is about 3 Hr drive, round trip, so not excited about it. Owner gets back to me and says he moved it out to a garage that doesn't have a front door to make space over winter. Last run over a year ago.

Is this something I should even consider? Concerned motor might be shot if it has been left exposed. I know it's not a ton of money but can't see spending $100 on this. Maybe $75...

Also, picking up an old floor standing Boice Crane tonight for $60 that looks to be in good shape, at least as far as rust goes. Just looking for more restoration projects to pass some time, LOL...

 

[ndnchf]

That seems like a long drive for a rough WT at that price. You would be ahead of the game watching your local CL for one closer to home and not abandoned to the elements. You might pay a little more, but it would likely be worth it.

I paid $150 for this one, and it came with new in-the-box bearings. And it was delivered to my house.



After restoration:

 

[CNGsaves]

Exposed WHERE . . . ??? . . . . . In Phoenix it would be no problem as no rain !!

Paint might be faded but likely would be fine.

UPDATE GJ Profile with a Location.

 

[cgrutt]

That seems like a long drive for a rough WT at that price. You would be ahead of the game watching your local CL for one closer to home and not abandoned to the elements. You might pay a little more, but it would likely be worth it.

I paid $150 for this one, and it came with new in-the-box bearings. And it was delivered to my house.



After restoration:

Wow, that came out great! I think it might be same model but in much worse shape than yours when you bought it.

Exposed WHERE . . . ??? . . . . . In Phoenix it would be no problem as no rain !!

Paint might be faded but likely would be fine.

UPDATE GJ Profile with a Location.

No doubt, LOL. This one is in upstate NY.

 

[ndnchf]

That one has some pros and cons:

Pros: Has the accessory belt guard, production table with lift mechanism.

Cons: rough shape, wrong motor, missing chuck.

The belt guard is worth $100 by itself....

 

[cgrutt]

That one has some pros and cons:

Pros: Has the accessory belt guard, production table with lift mechanism.

Cons: rough shape, wrong motor, missing chuck.

The belt guard is worth $100 by itself....

Yeah, I saw that on ebay. Crazy, lol. Thanks, now you got me thinking about it again

 

[My Old Tools]

I wouldn't be afraid of it. Assume on anything that old it needs bearings, outside or not. The rest is just clean up. Chucks are wear items too. Most drill presses need a new chuck and the owners just won't give up on the old worn out one.

 

[crguy]

The drill press in the last picture is bigger, and better. It also has a table lift, and the Morse taper spindle. Might even have the slow speed intermediate pulley you really need.

 

[larry_g]

Ifthe last picture shows the drill press your looking at $100 is a steal. That is a big press, not your typical garage unit and I would expect 3 phase.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[cgrutt]

Thanks guys. I might go take a look...

 

[toddmp]

you could bring that thing out of the ashes.

 

[cgrutt]

Well, I'm going to pick it up at 5 pm...

Then heading south to pick up a Boice Crane floor standing drill press for $60 at 7 pm

My poor wife is going to kill me, LOL...

Well, seems like I've got a nice inventory of projects to work on. Going to try and make some progress next week.

 

[cgrutt]

Well, I bought both of them. The Walker Turner is in pretty rough shape, but it runs and the quill seems smooth up and down. It's running on 120v. Not sure specs on motor. Table is locked and the casting where quill handles are is broken and its missing a handle. Rust doesn't seem too deep/pitted. Table top has several holes drilled through. Not sure if those can be welded and ground flat or just leave it be. Aside from that it appears to have all the parts and just needs to be stripped and cleaned up. Oh, there is no chuck.

Getting it in my truck was an experience in and of itself. The owner got "Ole Betsy" out of the barn. A vintage (I'm thinking 50's loader that looked like a CAT bulldozer but with a bucket on the front instead of a dozer blade. Took three of us and Ole Betsy to get it in. Have no idea how I'm going to get it out, LOL. Tomorrow's another day.

The owner had an old scrap yard that he inherited from his father. All sorts of antique cars, trucks, parts, etc. Everything looked dated from 1930s through 1980s. Alot of it was rusted and looked like it hadn't been moved in 50 years. Other stuff looked pretty good. He tried to sell me a vintage drill press from the 1910s that was cool as can be. If I had more cash, I might have come home with it. Might make another trip, lol. The pulley system looked very similar to a South Bend lathe but positioned vertically. Run by a series of old leather belts. Very cool. Got to find out what he's looking for. Forgot name but the name plate looked new. I think it was made in Philadelpha, PA. Had tons of other tools in there, lathes, saws, drill presses, etc. I wish I took pictures.

The Boice Crane wasn't a full floor standing press which is good since I barely had room to put it in the truck. It was mounted on a homemade plate steel about 3/4" thick, maybe 12" wide by 36" deep. It looked like it came off a battleship. Press is small and fairly light weight but in decent shape. Owner was retired and it was in a basement wood shop with some other nice machines. An old Delta Unisaw and some other old Delta tools too. Very cool.

Good day. The $160 was worth the entertainment if nothing else, LOL...

 

[Ghost11]

Nice finds

 

[CNGsaves]

Now OP you need to talk the guy out of the UniSaw for a good price !!

 

[slip knot]

now op you need to talk the guy out of the unisaw for a good price !! :d

this!!!!

 

[cgrutt]

Now OP you need to talk the guy out of the UniSaw for a good price !!

Nah, I run with Powermatic

 

[cgrutt]

Where is this guy? I need parts for a Franklin; reckon he might have them?

Let me know his contact information. Thanks.

Have no idea. Pm me your contact info and I'll send it to him. He'll get back to you if he wants to. Sorry but I don't give out other people's personal info without them knowing about it.

 

[Red Leader]

We need pictures!

If that truly was the picture of the drill press you got...you got it for an AMAZING price. The intact pulley guard...that is something a LOT of guys are looking for. I wouldn't worry about rust...at all. There are tools that have literally sat outside for 100 years in the weather and restored to 100% functional. Now it might be a different scenario with the metal ways on a lathe, but for a tool like this it is no problem.

 

[cgrutt]

We need pictures!

If that truly was the picture of the drill press you got...you got it for an AMAZING price. The intact pulley guard...that is something a LOT of guys are looking for. I wouldn't worry about rust...at all. There are tools that have literally sat outside for 100 years in the weather and restored to 100% functional. Now it might be a different scenario with the metal ways on a lathe, but for a tool like this it is no problem.

Not my pic but it's the one. I need to try and figure out how to get it out of my pickup this am... after some coffee, LOL...

 

[thieltech]

Not my pic but it's the one. I need to try and figure out how to get it out of my pickup this am... after some coffee, LOL...

lots of pictures ,or you never bought them


your also suppose to take pictures of all the cool things you see while picking up your new tools !!

 

[cgrutt]

lots of pictures ,or you never bought them


your also suppose to take pictures of all the cool things you see while picking up your new tools !!

I wish I did but was in a rush to get the big press loaded and head downstate to pick up the small one, LOL. I'm heading out now to try to get them out of my truck. This should be fun. I'm working by myself. Have a small bucket on my tractor but not sure if it will lift it. Fingers crossed...

I'll take pics and post them up later. Hopefully everything will still be in one piece, LMAO...

 

[My Old Tools]

Engine hoist will have you unloaded in 5 minutes, a must for old arn collecting.

 

[cgrutt]

I thought about that but don't have one. Got it out but it was a bear to do by myself. Broke the table lift handle which doesnt really matter because teeth are stripped off gear so need to source replacement. I got pics but won't be able to post until Sunday.

 

[Fretters]

Usually easiest to disassemble to some degree before lifting off the vehicle/trailer, IMHO. When you're going to be derusting and fettling something, you'll generally be stripping it anyhows, so save yourself the grief of lugging it whole whenever possible.

 

[Red Leader]

You got a deal. I'd love to see that restored.

 

[cgrutt]

OK, so here are some pics of both machines:

This is what I was dealing with last week, LOL...

First the small one, Boice Crane, small but generally in good condition.

Head badge:

Machine:

Not crazy about wooden stand but it's right size. May rebuild it in steel.

 

[cgrutt]

Next up the Walker Turner. Fair condition.

Sourced some parts on ebay and McMasters. The table lift gears were sheared off. It was a 33T gear. Couldn't find any replacements so ordered a similarly sized 32T gear from McMasters along with a new Rack. Sourced a used replacement spindle hub and handles, lift table handle and manual on ebay. Need to buy a chuck and chuck arbor. I think it's a #2 Morse Taper arbor but not sure.

Headbadge:

Machine:

Table has a few holes, should I fill these (MIG weld) and grind or leave them be?

Spindle speed plate (currently has a 1750 RPM motor on it):

Underside of table and better view of column.

 

[cgrutt]

So, would it be OK to use a needle scaler to start getting some of the old paint and large rust spots off the cast iron or should I stick with a wire brush or would it be better to remove paint with stripper?

 

[ndnchf]

I wouldn't use a needle scaler, they are pretty rough on the surface. I'd use stripper on the paint to get the heavy stuff off. Then glass bead or cupped wire wheel on an angle grinder and/or electrolysis for all parts you can fit in the tank or cabinet. On mine, I used all three methods depending on the part and it worked out just fine.

 

[cgrutt]

Thanks. Yeah I bought some A&H cleaning soda and some bulk grade 5 large washers for electrolysis. I definitely want to use the electrolysis on the machined surfaces like the table top, spindle (inside where taper is), etc. Thinking about how I could build a PVC container for the main support column maybe using a large PVC pipe with two end caps and cutting it in half with the band saw or something. I was thinking about using needle scaler lightly just on the painted cast surfaces to knock off the heavy loose stuff off to start out.

 

[ndnchf]

The only part of my WT I didn't bead blast or use electrolysis on was the column. I used the cupped wire wheel to clean it to bare metal. Then use some 220, then 320 grit sandpaper shoe-shine fashion with kerosene to finish it up. It worked well for me.

 

[cgrutt]

Thanks!

 

[crguy]

I wouldn't weld the holes in the table. If you want to fill them, JB weld will work fine with little effort required.

 

[toddmp]

This is how baby drill presses are made.

 

[cgrutt]

Looks like this old gal has some life in her yet. First pass with wire brush on grinder. Still need to get into the nooks and crannies and buff out column but its coming along better than I expected.

 

[ndnchf]

Looking good, keep the progress and pics coming!

 

[ndnchf]

FYI - this is a very detailed thread about restoring a WT900. This inspired me to restore mine. If you have not seen it, I recommend taking the time to read through it. I found it very helpful and informative.

http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB2&Number=4978276&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=7&o=&fpart=all

 

[cgrutt]

FYI - this is a very detailed thread about restoring a WT900. This inspired me to restore mine. If you have not seen it, I recommend taking the time to read through it. I found it very helpful and informative.

http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB2&Number=4978276&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=7&o=&fpart=all

Awesome! Thanks for the link I will definitely read through it.

 

[sld961]

Looks like good progress. Keep the pics coming.